Just got a hillstream loach

Does anyone have any advice or would like to share their personal experience?


I picked up two of them at work.

You want a super strong current in your tank flowing one way. Also, the water should be super oxygenated. Add airstones and powerheads to make this happen. Basically, hillstream loaches like to be in conditions where most other fish would struggle not to get blown away.

I have a couple 12" long spray bars pointing to the front of the tank creating a constantly rotation flow with strong surface agitation. One spray bar is from the fluval filter and another is from a diy powerhead combo. Not going to add an airstone due to the fact that this tank has no lid and I don't want any splashing from bubbles. The tank has a rim and the fish do t seam to be able to climb out. I'm also a firm believer in that large amounts of surface agitation with good circulation of the water column will provide great amounts of highly oxygenated water than a few airstones or a powerhead with an air intake venturi. After some research I found out that they don't eat algae like a pleco but prefer meatier foods such as shrimp pellets. Apparently some of the sites I visited in the past were incorrect in describing them as fast water pleco that eat algae only.

I'm thinking of adding a few different types of shrimp to the tank. Does anyone know what I can add besides cherry shrimp, red crystal shrimp, Amano shrimp, and Bambi shrimp? Looking for a variety without possible cross breeding.

Neat looking fish none-the-less~

Hikari algae wafers have a fair amount of protein.
Sounds like what you have going on is perfect.
Vampire shrimp would be a fun addition, they are filter feeders

Bamboo shrimp are definitely on the list. Might get two once the plants fill out better. Not sure if I'm ready for a filter feeder just yet. I feel I need a few more scavengers such as a good amount of small shrimp to clean up the excess food when feeding the filter feeders. At work the Bamboo shrimp tend to be difficult to feed with out much waste.

Spirulina powder makes for a good food. I used to save all the crumbs at the bottom of the food containers and use it to feed my vampire. Vampires are different than bamboo, they get much larger and are a lot more stout.

Everything you are doing sounds great! I keep the same exact species in one of my tanks and it is set up similarly with lots of surface agitation and good current. I have kept them a few times and as long as you have high o2 content and cool (67-72F or so), super strong current has been proven not to be really a crucial thing as long as their other needs are met. To breed them though current does play more of a needed role. I feed mostly veggy heavy food, but every now and then I will give them some protein. Here is my 10 gal river tank.

Good luck to you, that fish is beautiful!

Wow nice picture of your 10 gallon tank. Somehow it looks like it has no water. Must have very clear water and a very nice light.

If you're still looking for CPD let me know. I might have a dozen arriving not this Friday but next.

Every time I walk past the tank its in a different spots but never move. I'm now convinced that they are just like my plecos. As soon as they see or feel movement they freeze up on me. In less than five minutes I returned to the room and it moved from one side of the tank to the other. While watching TV for a hour it didn't move an inch but as soon as I'm gone it moves to another location. Might have to setup a camera to spy on it.

Amp2020 wrote:Wow nice picture of your 10 gallon tank. Somehow it looks like it has no water. Must have very clear water and a very nice light.

If you're still looking for CPD let me know. I might have a dozen arriving not this Friday but next.

Thanks so much amp! My water is actually that clear, but I don't use anything special, just a fluval205 with lots of bio media. My light is just a 27w cf fixture, I love these lights, I have 3 of them! I appreciate the offer and I might take ya up on that later but I just got a few dwarf emerald rasbora today so I am maxed out for the time, thanks!

That fish is shy at first but it will become less sketchy over time it seems, just feed in the same place every time and it'll learn to always go there for food. Hope the best!

Did I hear some1 offering CPD? O.o. Sketch I still want those shrimp but sadly just been super busy with school/work. My only free time is tuesday during the day . I might just come to where you work and pick up those shrimp . Let me know when your free so I can setup a day or something.